Vol.:()
Biological Trace Element Research
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03298-0
The Biochemical Effects of Silver Nanoparticles and Spirulina Extract
on Experimentally Induced Prostatic Cancer in Rats
Afaf D. Abd El‑Magid1 · Omnia M. AbdEl‑Hamid1 · M. A. Younes1
Received: 2 March 2022 / Accepted: 23 May 2022
© The Author(s) 2022
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most diagnosed cancer in 112 countries and the second leading cause of death in men in
48 countries. We studied the outstanding agents silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Spirulina algae (Sp) for the management
of PCa once as monotherapy or last as a combination. PCa in rats was induced using bicalutamide (CasodexR)
and testosterone, followed by (7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene). Then, testosterone was injected s.c. for 3 months.
Rats were divided into six groups, with 12 rats in each group. Group I was assigned as the control (co), group II
as the PCa model, group III treated with AgNPs, group IV treated with Spirulina extract, group V treated with a
combination of AgNPs plus Spirulina, and group VI treated with bicalutamide. The results show that AgNPs could
normalize IL-6 levels and could overcome the hormonal disturbance induced in PCa rats along the hypothalamic–
pituitary–testis axis. Spirulina revealed a significant reduction in the level of total and free prostatic specific antigen
(PSA) to the same level as bicalutamide treatment, which was the same as the control group. Histopathological study
revealed regression (75%) of the histological pattern of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) for
Spirulina alone, and (50%) for bicalutamide. The best effect on IL-6 decline was reached with the AgNPs/Spirulina
combination as well as bicalutamide treatment compared with the PCa group. Bicalutamide treatment significantly
decreased the PSA concentration relative to the PCa group and reached the normal level. Adding Spirulina to AgNPs
as a combination enhanced its effect on all mentioned drawbacks associated with PCa except hormonal imbalance
that needs more adjustments.
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